Changeable sign.



Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

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9 5, anuewto c aza wflwcw A. H. H OLCOMB. CHANGEABLE SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, IQIB- $1 flame Fly-5 A. H. HOLCOMB.

CHANGEABLE SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED IAN-3,1918.

Patented Jan. 28,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

$511 Meme AUGUSTUS Ha HOLCOMB, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

CHANGEABLE SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

Application filed January 3, 1918. Serial No. 210,225.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS H. Hon 00MB, citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of WVashington, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Changeable Signs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates 'to improvements in changeable signs, and the object of my invention is to provide a series of separate plates upon each of which plates shall be inscribed words or devices of a difi'erent advertising sign and all of which plates shall be associated with power driven mechanism within an inclosing case in such manner that said mechanism shall be adapted to operate automatically to move said plates repeatedly, one after another, to and from a position where the signs inscribed thereon shall be exposed, each for a desired length of time, to the public view through an opening in said inclosing case.

I accomplish this object by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of an advertising sign embodying my invention; I

Fig. 2 is a view of the same in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 4 isa view in front elevation of a detail of the same;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the same in vertical section on broken line 5, 5 of Fig. 6, with some of its parts removed the better to show some of its internal parts;

Fig.6 is an enlarged view of the same in vertical mid-section on broken line 6, 6 of Fig. 1;

.Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in front elevation showing the relative positions of some parts of the same;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in vertical mid-section 'of the same on broken line 6, 6 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view on a re duced scale showing details of the same in front elevation.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts, a rectangular frame of an inclosing case consists of two vertical studs 10 and 11, which are united by'a top rail 14 and a bottom rail 15 to form a front portion. of said frame, and two studs 12 and 13 which are united by a top rail 16 and a similar rail that is not shown, to form the rearward portion of said frame, said front and rearward portions thereof being united by top rails 17 and 18 and bottom rails 19 and 20.

Extending between the top rails 17 and 18, in a position about midway between the front portion and rearward portion of the frame, is a bar 21 of angle iron, and, in a like manner, extending between the bottom rails 19 and 20, is a similar bar 22 that is also disposed midway between the front and rearward portions of said frame.

Extending vertically between the bars 21 and 22, are two studs 23 and 24, of angle iron, which are spaced from each other and disposed at equal distances respectively from each of the ends of the bars 21 and 22.

Disposed in the front portion of the frame, to extend upwardly from the bottom thereof fora distance of about one third of the height of said frame, is a panel 26 which serves to support the front edge portion of a shelf 26 whose rearward edge portion is supported by a rail 27 that is fastened to the studs 23 and 24.

Extending upwardly from the rearward edge portion of the shelf 26 and releasably fastened to the studs 23 and 24, is a panel 28, which is provided with a rectangular opening 29 that extends through the upper portion thereof.

Extending between the rearward portion of the frame and the vertical studs 23 and 24 is a shelf 30, which is disposed in a plane slightly lower than the plane of the shelf 26, and extending upwardly from said shelf 30 to the top of the frame are partitions 31 and 32, only the partition 32 of which has some of its rearward edge portion cut away, as indicated in Fig. 2, to form an opening into the space between said partitions 31 and 32.

Extending upwardly from the shelf 30 in a position spaced from the rearward portion of the frame is a sheet metal plate 33 which is provided with a circular opening 34, whose circular edge is indicated by the circular line 34 in Figs. 5 and 7, the lower portion ofsaid plate 33 being curved toward the front portion of the frame.

Fastened to the rearward side of the rearward portion of the frame is a vertically disposed back board'35 which extends from the bottom to the top of sald rearward portion ofthe frame, but which is J of a width that is less than the diameter of the opening 34 of the plate 33.

Fixed in the back board 35 in a position concentric with 'the opening 34 is an inwardly projecting Stud 36 upon which is rotatably mounted a wooden disk 37 whose periphery is provided with a groove 38;

The front side of the. outer circular edge portion of the disk 37 is reduced in diameter in order to permit the front portion of said disk freely to project through the circular opening 34 of the plate 33, and said outer circular edge portion is provided with a plurality of pins 39 which are disposed at equi-distant points in a circular line to project through said circular opening 34 at points adjacent to the edges of said open ing 34.

Rotatably mounted in the plate 33, in a vertical line radiating from the axis of the disk 37, is a spindle'40 that projects horizontally to a point near the inner side surface of the panel 28, said spindle 40 being provided with an integral collar 41, of comparatively large diameter, which. engages with the front side surface of the plate 33, and with a rigidly attached toothed wheel 42, a side of which engages with the rear 4 side surface ofsaid plate 33, as more clearly shown in Fig. 8, which collar 41 and wheel 42- present large area of bearing surfaces against the sides of saidplate. 33, thus to adapt thespindle 40 to'sustain a considerable weight to which itmay be subjected.

The axis of the spindle 40 is so disposed that the teeth of the'toothed wheel 42 will operatively engage, one after another, with the pins 39 in response toa rotation of the disk37 thus to impart intermittent rotative movements to the spindle 40.

Rigidly disposed to extend through the disk 37 at a point in thesame radial line with one of the pins 39, and at a slight distance therefrom, is a tubular socket 43 withinwhich is operatively disposed a .slidably movable carrier stud 44 whose front end portion is smaller than its rearward end portion, and whose front end portionissurrounded by a helical compression spring 45 which tends to force said. carrier stud44 towardits most rearward position to cause the rearward end surface of said carrier stud 44 to engage with the adjacent surface of the back board 35 in which position the front end portion of said stud 44 will project forward beyond the plane of the front surface of the plate 33.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 9, the left hand edge portion of the back board 35 is provided with a curved slot 46 which extends through it from its front side to its rear side, and which is disposed in the path of the rearward end portion of the stud 44 so that, in response to a rotation of the disk 37 in a contra-clockwise direction, when said stud 44 reaches said slot 46 the spring 45 will be permitted to force said stud 44 to move to project its rearward end portion into said slot '46 while its front end portion .will be withdrawn to a point rearward of the vertical planeof the front surface of the plate 33.

The left hand edge portion of the back board 35, ata point below the slot 46 and in thepath of the rearward end portion of the stud 44 is also provided with a curved slotted groove 47. that forms an inclined plane that extends from a point-near the rearward corner edge of said back board 35 to a point on the front surface thereof that is distant from the front corner edge thereof, which inclined plane serves as a cam Which will engage with the rearwardend surface of the stud 44 to force said stud 44 forward, in response to a contra-clockwise rotation of the disk. 37, again to'project its front. end portion forward to a point beyond the vertical plane of the front surface of the plate 33 where it will remain during its travel upwardly through the right hand semi-circular portion of its path.

In. Fig. 4 is shown a card receptacle formed of a rectangular piece 48 of. sheet metal, the endedge portions 49 and 50.and the bottom edge portion. 51 of which are folded over to form a card holder within which is removably disposed a card '52 upon which may be printed any desired advertising sign.

F astened to the central part ofthe upper, edge portion of the sheet metal piece 48 is a metal tab 53 which is providedwithvtwo integral suspender hooks 54 and 55 disposed one above the other, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4.

In the compartment beneath the horizontalshelf 30 is a groovedpulley-56 which is fixed on a shaft 57 which, in a manner not shown, may extend to and connect with a source of rotary motion, as an electric motor, that may be disposed within the compartment under the shelf 26.

The top andv opposite vertical sides of the rectangular iron frame may be closedby suitable cabinet worknot shown.

Operatively disposed in groove 58of the pulley 56' to extend therefrom. to; the groove 38, aroundthe disk 37, isa belt, not shown, whereby a rotation of the shaft 57 will cause a rotation of the disk 37fiinan obvious manner.

In utilizing a changeable sign embodying my invention, as illustrated in the drawings and as hereinbefore described, the structure is conspicuously disposed, as,for instance, in a show window of a store, and, in order to attract-the attention of the public, the shelf 26 is used for the purposeof placing-therd on a display of objects that are designed to excite the curiosity of people passing said show window.

The structure being thus disposed, a plurality of card receptacles (each containing a card 52 havino a different advertisement printed thereon are operatively suspended on the screw-threaded spindle 40 by their upper hooks 54 of their respective tabs 53, the hook 54 of each being disposed in the groove between different ones of adjacent convolutions of the screw-thread of said spindle 40 as indicated by the fragmentary view in Fig. 8.

The frontward one only of the card receptacle is shown in Fig. 6 in its operative position to display its printed card through the rectangular openin 29.

The card receptacles being thus suspended on the spindle 40, rotary motion is communicated to the disk 37 in an obvious manner, and in response to each revolution of said disk 37 the pins 39 will engage with the teeth of thetoothed wheel 42 to rotate the spindle 40 one revolution in a clockwise direction which will cause the frontwardmost one of said receptacles to fall off from the front end of the spindle 40, which card receptacle will drop downwardly first to engage with a deflecting plate 59 and then to fall on to the top of the shelf 30 there to rest with its tab 53 in engagement with the front surface of the disk 37 until the carrier stud 44 of the revolving disk 37 engages with the lower hook 55 of said tab 53, thus to cause the carrier stud 44 to carry with it in its upward course said card receptacle to a point registering with the axis of the spindle 40 whereupon the upper hook 54 of said tab 53 will fall into the rearwardmost one of the grooves between adjacent ones of the convolutions of the screw-thread of said spindle 40.

A continued rotary movement of the disk 37 will cause the rearward end of the carrier stud 44 to fall into the slot 46, thus carrying its front end portion to move rearwardly to a point where it will not project from the front surface' of said disk 37 until its said rearward end again engages with the inclined plane of the slot 47 when it will again be moved forward to engage with the hook 55 of the tab 53 of the next succeeding card receptacle.

Obviously, each revolution of the disk 37 will rotate the spindle 40 one revolution with the result that each revolution of said spindle 40 will cause a card receptacle to drop from its front end thus to display through the opening 29 all of the advertisements of all the cards of the card receptacles successively, each for the length of time that it takes for the disk 37 to make one revolution.

Manifestly, the spindle 40 may be adapted, by making it longer, to carry and support any desired larger number of card receptacles and the dimensions of the structure and its parts may be increased to display signs of any desired area.

The forms and arrangement of parts of my invention may be changed Without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A changeable sign of the class described, which embodies a rectangular frame a back board fastened to the rearward side of said frame; a disk pivotally mounted on the inner side of said backboard and adapted to be rotated; a carrier stud slidably disposed to extend through said disk normally to project its front end portion from the front side of said disk; a compression spring associated with said carrier stud and adapted to exert its force to move said carrier stud rearwardly to engage its rearward end surface with the front surface of said back board; a slot formed in said back board and disposed in the path of the rearward end of said carrier stud at a point near the uppermost portion of said path, into which slot the rearward end of said carrier stud may be projected in response to a rotation of said disk; a cam associated with said back board and disposed in the path of said carrier stud. at a point in a lower portion. of said path, whereby said carrier stud may be moved to project from the front surface of said disk while it travels from said cam to said slot in response to a rotation of said disk; a metal plate provided with a circular opening and fastened to said frame in a position parallel with and spaced from said back board with the circular edge of said opening adjacent to the front side surface of said disk; a plurality of pins disposed to project from the front side of said disk at points equi-distant from each other in a circle concentric with said disk; a spindle rotatably mounted in said metal plate at a point adjacent to the edge of the circular opening thereof and in a vertical line radiating upwardly from the axis of said disk, said spindle being provided with a screwthreaded portion that projects forwardly from said metal plate and with a spur wheel that is disposed rearwardly of said metal plate in a position to be engaged successively by said pins that project from the front side .of said disk in response to a rotation of said disk; a front board provided with an opening therethrough and fastened to said frame in a position spaced from and parallel with the front side of said metal plate; a plurality of sign card receptacles each provided with a suspension tab having two hooks disposed one above the other, said receptacles being disposed each with the upper hook of its tab in the groove between different adjacent convolutions of the screwthread of said spindle to v be suspended therefrom, whereby one ofsaid vreceptacles may disengagefrom said spindle in responseto each revolution; thereof to fall to a positionhwhere theloWer hookof itstab may hookjon. to said carrier stud to 2 its rearward end portion in a position-to be operativelyfand successively engaged-by said plurality ofpins in responseto a rotation: of said disk thereby to rotate said spinaplurality of sign cards and means --associated ith'said disk and With each of be carried upwardly aga n to dispose its upper hook on the rearward portion of the screw-threaded "portion of saidspindle,

whereby a different one of said receptacles .Will'be exposed through the opening ,inzsaid front board during the time of each revolution ofsaid spindle and means tor coin- 2 be successively d sposedto be suspended on municatingrotary motion to said 'disk. I

2. A changeable risign of-the class described, whichembodies a frame; a back- .board fastened to the rearward vertical side of said frame; a disk rotatably mounted on the inner side of said backboard; a plu rality of pins disposed to projectfromthe front sicleof said, disk at equi-distant points Lof a concentriocircular line thereof; a-plate disposed above and adjacent to the edge of dle v agaa aev theflfront surface of said disk; la spindle projects forward from said plate and provided with a spur Wheel that is fastened on said sign cards whereby said signcards may the screw-threaded portion of said spindle to be moved forward thereon by the screw-.

[thread to drop off the front end-of said spn dlein response to a rotation of said disk.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 1ny7nan1e this 18th of December, A. D. 191..

' "AUeUsT s H. Ho Leone.

' Copies of this patent may be obt'ained for fii re cents each, b yeaddress i ng the Commissioner of Patents,

' ,yweshinetamnczi v a 

